Institute for Justice

June 2010, Volume 19, Number 3

June 2010, Volume 19, Number 3

As federal, state and local governments continue their relentless assault on free speech in the guise of campaign finance “reforms,” the Institute for Justice is fighting back to protect our rights. Our most recent lawsuit, in the state of Washington, takes on a law that strikes at the heart of ordinary Americans’ right to free…

Texas has some of the worst civil forfeiture laws and practices in the nation, but a constitutional challenge the Institute for Justice filed in April intends to change that. A Texas property owner is fighting back by challenging the government’s forfeiture of his Chevy truck. In so doing, he aims to protect the property rights…

By Rob Frommer In December 2009, the Institute for Justice joined forces with three Virginia yoga instructors in an effort to protect both their freedom of speech and their right to earn an honest living. Through litigation and advocacy in the court of public opinion, IJ and our clients prevailed in March 2010 when Virginia…

By Beth Milnikel Too often, government bureaucrats are terrified of anything that does not fit neatly into their lists. They treat an innovative business idea as a nuisance or—worse—a threat. Case in point: During the past few years, several Chicago entrepreneurs noticed that some folks who prepared food for a living needed to use a…

It is, unfortunately, business as usual in the Empire State. A developer recently asked Auburn, N.Y., officials to condemn three small businesses, including one owned by a family who fled communist China, because he wanted to build a hotel where those businesses stand. The targeted properties were not blighted; the developer merely thought he knew…

By Lisa Knepper As documented in a new IJ Strategic Research report—Mowing Down the Grassroots: How Grassroots Lobbying Disclosure Suppresses Political Participation—36 states threaten grassroots political movements with red tape and regulation. Washington—one of those 36—is the latest focal point in the Institute for Justice’s effort to strike down these laws, which stand in the…

By Chip Mellor A key to IJ’s success has been building off our institutional strengths while keeping a laser-like focus on our mission. That is what IJ did as we expanded our grassroots activism efforts—applying the lessons we learned from our own grassroots battles to train homeowners, entrepreneurs, parents and activists nationwide to better fight…

There is an old expression: Show me your friends, and I’ll show you who you are. If that proverb is true, then IJ is a growing force for freedom, and we have the social media friends, followers and fans to prove it. The Institute’s expanded presence on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other social media websites…

For the past two years, readers of Liberty & Law have followed the long, hard fight of SpeechNow.org, the nonprofit group that wants to protect free speech at the ballot box by promoting or opposing candidates based on their support for the First Amendment. We are happy to report that its long fight has resulted…

The Institute for Justice lost a dear young friend and one of our most courageous fighters for freedom: Arya Majumder, who died of cancer on April 25. IJ represents Arya’s father, Kumud, in our challenge to the provisions of the National Organ Transplant Act that ban offering incentives to attract more bone marrow donors and…

The Institute for Justice was named a winner in the Law category for the Webby People’s Voice Award. More than 700,000 votes were cast in the Webby’s People’s Voice Awards with 10,000 entries from around the world. Being honored with a Webby Award signifies the highest standard of online excellence. The Webby is the “leading…